Patents by Inventor Raiford Smith

Raiford Smith has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10079915
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 10069944
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 9729678
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 9722665
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Patent number: 9648143
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: DUKE ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 9407324
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Publication number: 20150180538
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Publication number: 20150180282
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include transmitting a first power line communication signal from the communication node to a sensor device that is at or adjacent an electric grid device. The method may include receiving from the sensor device a second power line communication signal that is responsive to the first power line communication signal, at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include determining a distance between the communication node and the electric grid device by measuring an electrical parameter of the second power line communication signal, at the communication node. Related communication nodes are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Stuart Laval, Jason Handley
  • Publication number: 20150097697
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Publication number: 20150097695
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Publication number: 20150097694
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Publication number: 20150097696
    Abstract: Methods of operating a communication node are provided. A method of operating a communication node may include receiving data from an electric grid device via a network interface. The method may include processing the data from the electric grid device at the communication node. Moreover, the method may include transmitting a filtered portion of the data to an electric utility head end system, after processing the data at the communication node. In some embodiments, a method of operating a communication node may include using a message broker controlled by a virtual machine in the communication node to provide a protocol to interface with a field message bus that includes a standards-based or open-source Application Programming Interface (API). Related communication nodes and computer program products are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: April 9, 2015
    Applicant: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Stuart Laval, Raiford Smith
  • Patent number: 8812165
    Abstract: Various embodiments are directed to systems and methods for optimizing energy use with one or more optimization engine objects. An optimization engine object may have a plurality of dependent objects including at least a dependent optimization engine object, or at least one of a supply-side or demand-side object. The optimization engine object may receive dependent object attribute data from each of the at least one dependent objects; determine an optimal configuration for the plurality of dependent objects over the first time period subject to at least one optimization constraint; and conditioned upon the optimization engine depending from a superior optimization engine, transmit a net energy usage associated with the optimal configuration to the superior optimization engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Duke Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Raiford Smith, Melanie Miller, Pedram Mohseni, David Masters